Drug Ring Suspect To Fight His Seizure In Mexico

OTHER NEWS TO NOTE - SOUTH

February 24, 1996

HOUSTON — Attorneys for alleged drug kingpin Juan Garcia Abrego told a federal judge Friday they plan to challenge his extradition from Mexico to stand trial on U.S. drug charges. Defense attorney J.A. Canales also said he expects federal prosecutors to seek a new indictment to replace charges in a 26-count indictment issued in 1993 against Garcia Abrego and reputed members of his Gulf of Mexico drug cartel. A U.S. District judge Friday delayed the drug conspiracy trial until Sept. 18 because of the case's complexity. Attorneys on both sides had sought the delay in the trial, which had been set to begin March 11. Garcia Abrego, one of the FBI's 10 most wanted fugitives at the time of his arrest, was captured in Mexico on Jan. 14 and extradited the next day to Houston.